I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what
you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.- Maya Angelou.
While performing my service project, we were suppose to help others but in
doing so they have help me in so many ways. I have become more of a selfless
person and I have truly discovered the meaning of life. Life is all about choices
and our actions we make, everything leads to something else. I have learned
that the little things do matter, and that some times the little thing turn out to be
the big things. I have learned to brach off and experience different things and
most importantly different people. Living life is about variety and diversity and I
have immensely realized that by the experiences I have encountered at
Shepherd Center.
My major is excises science, this isn't the case where I am in it for the
money I enjoy helping people. For my service project I went to a spinal cord and
brain injury center and volunteered with anything I could. I would bring the
patients food on occasion or run errands for the nurses. Some people
there have no family and seeing someone and talking to them for even just
moment could brighten their day, also help in their recovery. A big factor in the
recovery process is support. Therefore, I also wrote letters of encouragement
and hope. Being at shepherd center I not only did I conform even more about
my goal of being a physical therapist but I also gained a lot of insight about life.
Things happen in an instant and in that instant you life can be complete turned
upside down.
In the brain injury section some of people don't even know who
their loved ones are. With all this being said I have realized that we have such a
limited time to do something truly great and make our mark on this world so
starting tomorrow should never be an option, we are here right now and whats
better than starting at this moment. When seeing all the doctors and physical
therapists interact with the patients it warmed my heart and set a fire inside me
to be just like that. I observing the way the doctors and therapists looked and
cared for the patient was truly inspiring, to them it was not just a patient they
made it there mission to connect with them on a personal level and get involved
with every aspect of their lives. This line of work you have to be very selfless and
kind hearted.
There was this one man that really inspired me that nothing is impossible,
his name was Thomas. Thomas got in a very bad motor cycle accident and has
severe brain damage. He has something called left side neglect where he
neglects to acknowledge this whole left side of his body. Therefore he has to re-
lean how to walk using his left leg and arm. He had a fire in him that allowed him
to push though even on the worst days. We talked for a little and his mental
status is not fully there, his frontal lobe was damaged significantly but he loved
to talk about his daughter and her family. He has been there for six months and
doesn't recall the fist four months he was there. I really connected with this man
and will continue to write him letter and visit. The shepherd center is in my home
town therefore I will be visiting.
